Improvement in cotton-choppers



iuitl /lidi DWIGHT F. WELSH,

or ivrvann,y oHIo.'

Letters Patent No. 111,023,v dana January 17, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT iN COTTON-(SHOPPERS.

The Schedule referred to ln these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DWIGHT F. WELSEgiof Nevada, in the county of Wyandot aud State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement ih- Cotton-Choppers; and `I do hereby declare the following', to be a`full, clear-,and exact description thereof, referj ence being -had to the accompanying drawing forming part of the same, and iu which'is'represented a perspective view ot' my c hopper.

'This invention` relates to certain improvements in cotton-choppers, and-:the nature thereof consists in forming the shaft'cal'l'yiligv the choppers'or hoes into two parts, which are united by means'of auniversa1joint; in the employmentA of a vertical 1nd,-,-

embracing at itslower end, by means of 4an oblongor oval loop, the chopper-shaft, andhaving its lupper` end, which is supplied lwith a spring, passinggthrough an arm secured to the upperipart vof the framev of the machine, and in an improved meansof attaching the handles of the choppers to the chopper-shaft, as here, inafter more fully. set forth. Y Similar letters in the several figures indicate like parts.

In the accompanying drawing Y A representsan axle lhaving the wheels -B Il, and to which are attached the shafts C G.

D is a longitudinal horizontal` bar or support, secured at its front end to the transverse bar d of shafts C C, and having the axle AA passing through its center, forming a support therefor. v

E isa shaft,.consisting of` thel parts c el, which are united by means of a universal joint, e, the part c rcvolving in journal-boxes secured to the side of bar or beam d, and providedwith the beveled gear-wheel d', gearing with the beveled gear-wheel F, located upon' axle A, and the part el being supported by means of a vertical pendent rod, through thc looped end ofA which it passes.

F designates a vertical rod, formed at its-lower extremity with an oval-shaped loop, through which the chopper-shaft passes, thereby forming a support for the part el of said shafta nd also allowing it to have lateral'movement, the universal joint c2 acting in conjunction therewith for producing this resultor movement, the object of which being to allow the choppers to be placedI at any desired angle in a horizontal plane, in order that crooked rows of cotton may be chopped, or in case the choppers should not be drawn directly over the saidrows of cotton, they may be made ,to comein Contact therewith.

This rod is made to pass up through'an aperture in't-he arm G, fastened to beam or support D, and supplied on that part of its surface extendingabove the arm G with a spiral spring, f, embracing it, and having its upper end confined by means of mit and its lower end Vresting Aon the said arm' G, the object of said spring being for the purpose of allowing the rod l*v to freely yield to the upward and downward movenient of the shaftE imparted to it in the manner fand for the purpose hereinafter described.

H .H designate the choppers or hoes, constructed yas shown in the drawing, and having the-inner ends ofV their. shanks hv h inserted in a metal disk, hl, con.- sistiug of two plates, between which are placed at suitable intervals apart wedge-shaped metal blocks for retaining 'in place the Shanks of said hoes, theyV being made to enter the'spaces or intervals above alluded to. 'j

The screws hi h2 are for holding the parts composing the diskhl-together. y

'I I designate twohandlesheld together at their upperends or thereabouts by a transverse piece, i, and secured at their lower ou converging ends toa metal plate, il, which is constructed with two clips or ferrules, ft2 t, embracing the outer end of shaft E, and held thereonbya shoulder and nut, i. i

It Will be remarked that, Aby means of the universal joint`constructed on the,cutteror'chopper-shaft E,

'the hoes or chopperslocated on the said shaf'tcan be made'to cut rows of cotton'on hilly or uneven ground,- the rod F', embracing lsaid shaft, yielding by means of its spring to the upward and downward movement thereof in its operation.

Having thus described my invention, 4 That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

`1. The shaft E, carrying the choppers or hoes I-I H, constructed in two parts, and connecting or hingingr thennthe said parts, together by means of a uni.-

` versal joint, arranged and operating'substantially as and for the purpose described. p

2. The vertical rod vF', supplied with a loop at its lower extremity embracing the shaft E, and a spring, j, at its upper end, in combination with the projecting bar or support G fastened` to beam D, all arranged and operating,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The handles I I, secured in place on the shaft Eli-by means of the metal plate il, clips or fel-rules 'i2- i'l, and shoulder and nut t3, arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose specified.

1n testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invent-ion, l hereunto set my hand this 'day of October, 1870, in the presence 'offtwo subscribingwit-l nesse's. l f

DWIGHT F. WELSH.

Witnesses:

D. JJMrNIoH, JAMES K. AeNEw.y 

